Articulating Ambiguity

Abstract

By nature, a threshold needs to be acknowledged. It is the embodiment of a distinction. The understanding that, for whatever reason, spaces need to be separated. A threshold could serve the purpose of keeping conflicting spaces at bay from otherwise volatile interaction, or simply that a thoughtful and intentional transition must be had in order to politely occupy the space.

There is no better example, in the eyes of this thesis than the threshold(s) of Public and Privately connotated space, specifically those that surround the home. This specific type of threshold is one that not only varies in degrees of permeability but is also emphatically dependent on the minutia of the occupant’s characteristics, not to mention the veritable cornucopia of physical and non-physical methods used in its articulation.

An investigation into the evolution of the home has proven that domestic structures have forgone many iterations to get where they are now. Some of these changes were based on the shift of focus from safety to comfort, some came from technological advancements, while others can be attributed strictly to regional/cultural tendencies. Not only does the home, it’s occupants and their use of the space, vary drastically on a case by case basis, but also the type of residence itself. The acknowledgment of varying demographics coexisting, and the occupant's need for a claim to space has eventually led to a study of student housing; specifically dormitories and cooperative living arrangements. Using Eastern Michigan University as a site provides a testing ground for some of the theories and methods explored in this thesis.